Wraith's Lament: Chapter 3: Into the Woods

Yema and Bishop touched down outside the edge of the woods, the dark trees looming overhead. Yema swung off of Bishop’s back onto the thick grass, the setting sun giving the scene an eerie red-orange cast. Yema took a deep breath as she peered into the shadowy depths, steeling herself to take the step further. Bishop puffed himself up as well, nudging her encouragingly forwards with his wing. Yema smiled over at her companion; Despite all the misfortune and destruction the rhakos had already wrought, Bishop remained as confident and steadfast as ever. "Let's do this. Gotta keep our eyes peeled for any clues, Bishop." Yema said, stepping forwards into the treeline. Bishop followed close beside her, his steps decisive as he picked his way through the tall grass. They both explore in silence, making sure to stay fairly close together in case of danger. The trees were just as foreboding inside as they had appeared from the edge. While the sun still did it's best to illuminate their surroundings, it was low enough that the shadows loomed thick and dark behind every tree and bush. The vibrant color of the sky was mostly obscured by interlocking branches and leaves, and whatever light that came through was diffused to a soft red glow. The air seemed still and quiet, almost unnaturally so. Yema paused for a moment rubbing her eyes tiredly and glancing over at where Bishop was peering into a dense patch of bushes. These last few days had been long, and even in the moments where she could rest, she found it hard to relax. They were making progress, they were going to find a way to stop the Wraith, but it was times like these, quiet moments when nothing new is being discovered, that Yema found herself struggling to stop her worries from eating at her. She would never admit it aloud though, of course. For both her own, and Bishop's sake, as well as everyone else who was relying on both them, she had to remain strong and confident. As if sensing her thoughts, Bishop looked over at her and closed the distance between then in a few quick strides. He pressed his forehead against hers for a moment, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Yema couldn't help chuckling and leaning into his fluffy feathers, cradling his head in her hands. "Thanks, big guy. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you here with me. Probably killed by some feral rhakos, I think. Never would have made it out the edge of the world, without someone as quick and agile as you." She said, and Bishop puffed himself up proudly and nibbled her ears affectionately. "I really mean it, Bud! How many other stryx can you name that would've kept their cool, diving and swooping through the smoke and ash like that? Because let me tell you, I only know one stryx who can and I'm looking at him." Yema said, scratching under his chin. He chirped in response, happily wiggling his body at the wave of praise. "Now, with our spirits bolstered, let's get back to it, yeah? See anything yet? Broken twigs, muddy footprints, stray feather?" Yema asked, crouching down and looking over a thorny bush for anything that might've gotten caught by a creature pushing through. Bishop tittered a negative response, and Yema straightened out and began walking a little farther. Yema hasn't gotten much farther, however, when Bishop suddenly let it a surprised squawk. Yema rushed over, and sure enough, there was a dark feather stamped into the mud by the rhakos' foot. Unmistakably just what they had been looking for. so. "Well, Bishop, seems like there's only one way for us to go." She said, squinting her eyes to make our the path of footprints and feathers through the rapidly darkening forest. The further they went, the more Yema's unease grew. On the other hand, Bishop only seemed to become more emboldened with each track they found. She stepped closer to Bishop, grabbing a strap on his saddle for reassurances. "Are you ready to face what we may find, big guy? Yema said, stopping for a moment. Bishop played thoughtfully for just a moment, before giving his best confident "battle ready" face. Yema laughed lovingly, and climbed up onto his back. "If you're ready, then I'm ready." Yema said, leaning close and ushering him onwards. They were getting closer, they could both just feel it as they continued to follow the trail. Yema squinted down at the foot prints curiously, and gave a thoughtful hum. "It's walking weirdly. Like it's. . . . limping. It might be decently injured, which would be a huge advantage. Lady Luck may just be on our side yet, Bishop boy." Yema said, and Bishop picked up the pace even more. Though she had claimed luck was on their side, she still felt a nagging sense of dread. The path was clear to make out, even in the fading light of dusk, and it wasn't a challenge at all to follow. "Let's just. . . be on guard, Bishop. I'm watching your back." Yema reassured, patting his neck. Bishop didn't respond but she knew he had heard and understood. They both noticed a movement off to their side, and froze still for a moment before Kali emerged from the shadows. Yema and Bishop let out the breath they had been holding, when Kali motioned for them to keep quiet. They had split up, hoping to cover more ground for a better chance of finding clues. Yema climbed down from Bishop's back, crouching next to Kali. "It's not far from here, in a clearing. It seems banged up pretty badly, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm going to try to go around, and you can stay on this side to try and cut it off if it tries to run." Kali whispered, and Yema nodded along. Kali disappeared back into the trees, and Yema climbed back up on Bishop's saddle. They continued on somewhat anxiously, making sure to proceed with extra caution. The tracks grew more erratic, tumbling through the bushes before the trees began to thin, revealing the small clearing Kali had mentioned. In the center was a hunched shadow, it's breathing a raspy wheeze as it drew shallow breaths. Yema spotted Kali moving into position, and made eye contact, giving a curt nod as readied herself. "Well, Bishop, this is it." She whispered. Yema tightened her grip on the saddle's handle straps, leaning close to Bishop. She could feel him shifting his weight from side to side in anticipation, his gaze fixed on the rhakos in front of them. Kali rushed forwards, and the rhakos deceptively leapt up to quickly dodge her. Kali recovered quickly from her surprise, wheeling around and standing on guard to face the fearsome creature as it reared back and let out a bellowing roar that reverberated in Yema and Bishop's chest. Lightning burst forth from roiling skies, and the clouds opened up to being a rainy onslaught. There was no mistaking the crimson glow of the corrupted wisps as they bobbed and floated between the raindrops. the forest, that had previously been eerily still, had suddenly exploded as everything happened at once. Yema took a deep breath to steady herself as she calculated her next move. Kali was still stuck in the clearing with the rhakos, as it snapped and dashed to cut off any chance of her slipping by it. Yema urged Bishop forwards, who was more than happy to rush forwards into action. The rhakos cried out in surprise as Yema casted the wide net over the top of it, struggling in vain to free it's limbs from the ropes. Kali wasted no time running and mounting her own stryx, Taking to air and grabbing up the struggling rhakos. "Let's get out of here, quick!" Kali shouted, and Yema didn't need her to say it twice. She casted a quick glance back as they rose above the trees, to see a growing mass of wisps chasing after them.